ABSTRACT
In applying bioanalytical approaches, the aim of this study was to determine the toxicity of contaminants derived from a solid waste dumpsite in Calabar (Nigeria), by investigating the alterations of lipid and estrogen signaling pathways in Poeciliopsis lucida hepatocellular carcinoma-1 (PLHC-1) cells and compared to in vivo African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), using polar, nonpolar and elutriate extraction methods. Cells were exposed for 48 hr period to different concentrations of the contaminant extracts. The PLHC-1 cells were evaluated for lipid responses as follows adipoRed assay, retinoid x receptor (rxr), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor isoforms (ppar-α and γ), estrogen receptor (er-α) and vitellogenin (vtg) transcripts. The lipid signaling activation was also assessed in vivo using C. gariepinus, where hepatic levels of ppar-α were determined at both transcript and functional proteins levels. Data showed variable-, extract type and concentration-specific elevations in mRNA and protein levels for lipidomic and estrogenic effects. These effects were either biphasic at low and high concentrations, depending upon extract type, or concentration-dependent elevations. In general, these toxicological responses may be attributed to soil organic and inorganic contaminants burden previously derived from the dumpsite. Thus, our data demonstrate a unique lipid and endocrine-disruptive chemical (EDC) effects of each soil extract, suggesting multiple and complex contaminant interactions in the environment and biota. Analysis of numerous soil- or sediment-bound contaminants have numerous limitations and cost implications for developing countries. Our approach provides a bioanalytical protocol and endpoints for measuring the metabolic and EDC effects of complex environmental matrices for ecotoxicological assessment and monitoring.
Acknowledgments
We thank Randi Røsbak for technical assistance during sampling and analysis
Disclosure statement
We declare that there is no perceived or known competing financial interests or otherwise that is attached to our study.
Author information
Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Availability of data and materials
The corresponding author will make available on request all datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study
Credit author statement
Oju R. Ibor and Augustine Arukwe: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Oju R. Ibor, Essa A. Khan and Augustine Arukwe: Investigation, Oju R. Ibor and Essa A. Khan: Formal analysis, Augustine Arukwe: Supervision, Project administration, Resources, Oju R. Ibor and Augustine Arukwe: Writing – Original Draft, All authors: Writing – Review & Editing
Consent to publish
All authors have read and agreed that the manuscript is ready for submission and publication in ESPR
Ethical approval
The findings in our manuscripts does not report information that are applicable to human participants, human data, or human tissues. No personal or individual human data in any form is contained in our manuscript.